Crank (Crank 1)

I didn’t even say good-bye, just slammed

the door and went to check the mailbox.

I figured I’d better keep checking

it until my report card arrived.

It wasn’t there. But something a whole lot

better was—two letters from Citibank.

Inside one was Mom’s new credit card.

Inside the other was a PIN.

I Did Think Twice

about using that Visa, maybe

even three or four times.

But it was just so easy, like fate

had mailed it directly to me.

Mom wouldn’t miss it for weeks.

And then I would deny ever

having laid eyes on the thing.

Robyn gave me a ride to meet

Roberto. He didn’t look near

as scary as he really was.

The buy was a piece of cake.

Except for one thing.

Roberto wouldn’t deal less than

half-ounce quantities. That much,

straight from the source, was relatively

cheap. And Visa paid for it.

I didn’t need it all, of course.

The plan was to sell some,

so my own stash would be free.

Every dealer thinks that until

their nose gets busy.